Does this mark the beginning of the Annual War on Christmas? The CBC is reporting that two Toronto-area malls have asked the Salvation Army to stop ringing those damn bells while its volunteers collect donations from passersby. Apparently, the incessant ringing was driving some merchants a little batty:

Eaton Centre spokesman Brian O’Hoski points out the mall is an indoor environment with no overhead music or competing noises.

A few years back, he said, management asked the Salvation Army to stop ringing the bells because of noise complaints from some of the mall’s 230 tenants.

“In order to try and appease everybody and accommodate everybody, we’ve asked them not to ring the bells,” O’Hoski said.

So, wait: the merchants get to ban the ringing of the Sally Ann bells, but in December 2010 we still have to hear “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Do They Know It’s Christmas” (the worst song ever) every time we go shopping? This isn’t fair to anyone. Shoppers can at least walk away from the bells of the Salvation Army. But we can’t escape the International Standard Christmas Music rotation no matter where we go—including the LCBO when we try to soothe the pain.

Surely there’s room to make a deal here: the merchants stop polluting our ears with terrible Christmas music, and the Salvation Army keeps ringing its bells to raise money for a worthy cause. Everybody wins, except for Bob Geldof.

4 thoughts on “Eaton Centre leading the pack in race to be Grinch 2010”

I’m sure there are a lot of charitable organizations that would love the Salvation Army’s prime locations in the mall. I’m wondering if it would be more fair of the malls to have a roation of charities, as some people might want to donate to a non-demominational organization at this time of year. Plus the Salvation Army is free to ring their bells while standing outside on the sidewalk, no?

I am responding to let you know that the media reports are inaccurate; Fairview Mall does in fact allow the bells to ring in the mall. While Fairview Mall and Toronto Eaton Centre are both owned by The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited, each shopping centre has its own arrangement with the Salvation Army for their annual Christmas Kettle campaign.

Toronto Eaton Centre Management and The Salvation Army are concerned about the reports in the media regarding Toronto Eaton Centre not allowing The Salvation Army to ring their bells this Christmas. Together both the Toronto Eaton Centre and The Salvation Army have had the arrangement and cooperation for over eight years not to use the bells. The purpose of the bells is to attract attention to the kettles, and in a shopping centre such as Toronto Eaton Centre with so many generous shoppers, the bells are not needed to draw attention to the kettles as they are a very successful fund-raising campaign at the Toronto Eaton Centre.

Toronto Eaton Centre is very supportive of The Salvation Army Christmas kettles. Every year, working together with the public’s support, The Salvation Army and Toronto Eaton Centre raise much needed funds to support those in need within the Greater Toronto Area. We will continue to work together on these initiatives as this is about bringing hope and dignity to people in the community who need our help through The Salvation Army’s efforts.

Once a year, The Salvation Army collects for all the good things that they do for the people. Allowing them to ring their bells does more than just attract attention to the kettle…it runs deeper than that.

The bells draw attention to the fact that there are so many people that require assistance in Toronto/the G.T.A and beyond.

The bells are a conscious raiser. Making the act of giving to those less fortunate a real thought,that is the goal. It is akin to a light going on in one’s head to “do something good with your change…instead of contributing to coffee and a muffin.

It does not matter which religion that you believe.
All religions have the goal to be kind,respectful and charitable to other people. So what is your issue?

All charities select their months to be effective and December is theirs.

As far as making them “stand on the streets to gather funds”… They are on the streets enough assisting the everyone that requires help.

Canada is a Christian country.
Let the Sally Anne ring their bells.
When you hear those bells, give to Your favourite charity.
The bells can work for everyone’s charity, Mr. Grinch.